Transitions
Early years to Primary, Primary to Secondary
Transition is often thought of as the move from primary to secondary, but as early years language learning takes off progression is now being sought from early years to primary. Read more about a community-led approach to this period, and about a local authority’s perspective.
Short-term plans to help with transition
These short term plans should help Primary school teachers work out what language they will teach in each stretch of work from Primary 6 to 7. It may also provide the basis for working out a transition plan between primary and secondary school. Thanks to Esther Green of Banchory Primary School for providing them.
Word file: Short-term plan for Primary 6 in modern languages, Unit 1 (32 KB)Passport to Europe
In Dundee, primary–secondary transition has adopted a carnival atmosphere and become an annual festival of language learning, where pupils and teachers begin preparations many weeks in advance through project work, and converge in Dundee City Hall to work in mixed school groups to earn their Passport to Europe.
Dundee City Council: Passport to Europe 2004
Passport to Europe 2004 consists of a series of activities, games and challenges designed to be used by secondary Modern Languages departments working with Primary 7 pupils from their associated schools. The materials are designed to ensure that pupils complete tasks by reading, writing, listening and speaking in the modern language they are learning.
The P7 pupils get involved in project work prior to the event, and they go through a morning of activities, tasks and challenges on the actual day. In addition, each pupil will create their own 'passport', writing about themselves in French, German or Spanish.
For the event pupils are divided into teams of five to eight participants. Each team will have pupils from at least two different primary schools. The mixture of pupils ensures that the competition aids motivation and enjoyment of the event but does not place primary schools in the position of vying with each other. A senior pupil from the secondary involved will supervise each team.
Aims of Passport to Europe
The aims of Passport to Europe are:
- to heighten the profile of modern languages in primary schools by providing a focus for the work undertaken by P7 pupils
- to provide an event and a body of materials that will assist modern languages to become an integral part of the primary-secondary transition process
- to promote positive attitudes to foreign languages and cultures by pupil involvement in an action-packed, fun event.
The event has already taken place in three clusters in Dundee in three different languages. There are plans to disseminate the idea and materials from this project to other schools in Scotland. For more details, contact Chris Rolfe on 01382 462857.
Try out Passport to Europe for yourself, in French, German or Spanish, in our Resources section.
Contributions from Catriona Oates, Scottish CILT and Esther Green, Banchory Primary School